3-017-253 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Subway of the new High-Level Station at the Crystal Palace, [Sydenham], 1865. 'The South London and Crystal Palace Railway...has now been open several weeks...the superior convenience of the new Crystal Palace station is already felt by many visitors...[who are able to] avoid the tedious walk up half a mile of corridors and staircases imposed on those arriving by the Brighton Company's line...The platform of the station being on a level with the lower floor (in the machinery department) of the Crystal Palace, railway passengers will have easy access by a handsome and well-lighted subway, 40 ft. wide, ascending to the main floor, either in the centre transept or behind the concert-room, by a broad flight of steps...There will be room in the station and sidings for engines and carriages enough to carry away 7000 or 8000 passengers in an hour...at present nineteen trains run daily each way...The line has been constructed by Messrs. Peto and Betts; the engineer is Mr. Turner; Mr. Shelford is the resident engineer, and Mr. Edward Barry has been the architect of the Crystal Palace station, which was built by Messrs. Lucas, at a cost of about £100,000'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.